Its History Of Over The Ear Headphones Wireless

Best Over the Ear Headphones

Wireless headphones let you listen to podcasts and music without the need to connect wires to your audio device. These headphones are ideal to use on public transport, in the office or at home.

wireless headphnes over-ear headphones can have a premium design and exceptional noise cancellation. They typically come with a sleek storage case.

Soundcore Q30

These earphones are a significant upgrade from the Soundcore Life 2 of late-2018. They appear better and feel more durable and have a more polished appearance. The hinges are tighter, and the soft ear cups have been slightly larger. They're still made of plastic, but they're more polished. You can also switch the 3.5mm cable for a better USB-C model to make use of them with stationary Hi-Fi systems and mobile Hi-Res players. They also come with two microphones built-in, which perform well in our tests for FaceTime, Skype, and Microsoft Teams calls.

The Soundcore app comes with a broad variety of EQ presets that can be saved and adjusted to listen to podcasts and music in the style that you prefer. This is what sets these headphones apart from other ANC headphones and the Soundcore app is extremely easy to use.

The Q30's 40mm speaker effectively block the majority of ambient noise when ANC is enabled. This creates a very pleasant listening experience. The Q30's sound signature is natural, however it lags a little on the treble. Some may be disappointed by the bass response (we had better results with the Bass Booster equalizer). It is possible to fix this by using the Soundcore App, which comes with an eight-band Equalizer.

The left ear cup has an power button and a pairing button and USB-C charging port. The right earcup features buttons for volume up/down, play/pause and volume up/down. Double-clicking these controls lets you skip tracks or replay the previous one. You can also use voice commands to ask them to change modes or set alarms. You can also cover the right earcup with your fingers to enable ambient modes to allow you to hear the world around you without taking off the headphones.

These headphones have a great battery life. The Q30 lasts for an hour longer in our tests when ANC was turned on than the other models. This allows you to take advantage of an extended flight or a full day at work. They can be easily recharged by using the USB-C cable that comes with them, and you'll see an alert when they're getting empty.

Focal Bathys Wireless

Focal's Bathys Wireless are a set of high-quality headphones for over-ear use that offer both active noise cancellation as well as Bluetooth playback. They are designed to be high-end, premium headphones that can be used at home or while on the move. The headphones are a little bit more expensive than similar headphones, but their outstanding sound quality is what makes them stand out.

The Focal Bathys come in a small elegant white box with a cloth finish. It contains all the accessories you'll require. There's a fold-flat headphone carry case, USB-C to USB cable, 1.2mm SE cable and an audio adapter.

The 600mAh battery will last for a whole day of casual listening. They also come with an audio input that you can use wired. Wirelessly, they're paired via Bluetooth. You can control their functions with an app (now called Focal and Naim in the same way as English Naim's network-aware products) or the dedicated button located on the left earcup that scrolls through ANC profiles like silent, soft transparent,' and 'full.

The app allows you to alter various settings, such as the brightness of the LEDs, the EQ presets (including music's profile, that sounds more neutral and brighter than other profiles) and the battery life. It also gives you the ability to select the ANC mode and the level, and also set an 'acoustic environment' which adjusts the sensitivity of your audio to simulate what it will sound like if it were placed in a space with different audio acoustics.

The Focal Bathys come with an incredibly bass-rich profile that gives extra warmth, punch and impact to your favorite tracks. The result is that instruments and vocals can be muted, while other details such as cymbals may be less prominent than other headphones. The headphones are also less effective in active noise cancellation compared to other over-ears that have more advanced technology, like the Sony WH1000XM5 and Apple AirPods Max.

Sony WH-1000XM5

Sony headphones are renowned for their quality, and the WH1000XM5 headphones are no exception. It sits at the upper end of the'mainstream' over-ear headphone market, edging into the luxury lifestyle area where the likes of Bang & Olufsen, Apple and Montblanc are a common sight. The XM5s can be expensive however, if you can afford it get them, you won't find a better wireless headphones for over-ear use.

The XM5s come with a variety of features that simplify the lives of the listener and automate some tasks that they'd otherwise be required to do manually. Sony's DSEE Extreme engine (which upscales compressed music to near-high resolution) is included as well as support for Bluetooth's LDAC technology. This allows streaming of high-quality audio at rates that are higher than traditional Bluetooth. There's a built-in mic for making hands-free phone calls.

Similar to the previous generation of WH headphones the XM5s excel in noise cancellation. They're among the most efficient headphones for cutting out constant drones found in underground and train carriages. The XM5s are great at their job of shielding listeners from the traffic noises of airports and busy streets also.

The sound quality is very good. The XM5s don't have as many details in the low-frequency range as the XM4, but they do possess an increased sense of clarity and openness. For example the bass track on Rage Against The Machine's Bullet in the Head flexes the Sonys' muscles with real power and definition, while not sagging the other elements. Similar to Massive Attack's brooding Angel shows off the XM5s ability to create tight and precise bass notes.

Battery life is also very good, with up to 30 hours of listening with ANC active and up to 40 hours when it's off. This is more than enough to last a weekend getaway or several days' heavy use.

The XM5s aren't waterproof or dust-proof. In fact, Sony recommends that you avoid sweating on them or wear them in the rain. This might not be a big deal for everyone else however for those who spend long hours in the gym or live in a humid region it could be a big issue.

Apple AirPods Max

The Apple AirPods Max are a pair of over-ear wireless headphones that come with Bluetooth technology and noise cancellation. Apple designed dynamic drivers measuring 40mm, with a neutral sound profile that focuses on highs and waterproof mids without going too loud. This makes them great for movies and music. They also offer superior fidelity when compared to other headphones.

The headphones are light in construction that is comfortable on the head. The ear cups are constructed of memory foam and covered with a woven fabric. They sit comfortably on the ears without placing pressure on the sides of the face. The ear cups can tilt and waterproof rotate to accommodate different head shapes. The hinges that are spring loaded have a firm but not overly robust clamping force that ensures that the ear cups stay in place during listening sessions.

A small button at the the right ear cup can be used to toggle noise cancellation modes. It also has a pushable jog dial-like button similar to the digital Crown on the Apple Watch. You can turn it to control the volume and press it one, twice, or three times for playback controls. Pressing and holding the button triggers Siri. The buttons are simple to use and well-placed, however I would have liked to see a power button that would turn off the headphones when not in use. The headphones automatically switch to standby mode when removed from your ears or placed in their case. They only come back on when you slide them over your head once more.

Another feature that is quite cool is spatial audio, which uses the accelerometers and gyroscopes of the AirPods Max and your iPhone or iPad to figure out the direction you're going, and then repositions sound to create the illusion that they're coming from those places. This creates an immersive theater-like experience for movies and videos that were recorded in 5.1, 7.1 or Dolby Atmos. The only downside is that spatial audio requires an iOS device to use it, and you won't be able to enjoy it with other devices.

The AirPods Max are a decent pair of headphones, but I'd be slightly smug about entering an Apple Store and spending $549 on the headphones if I knew they'd be beaten in a year by the new model. AirPods Pro are more expensive however they offer more battery life and are equipped with the latest features.